All You Need To Know About Allen Texas!

The high quality of life in the suburbs surrounding the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex make buying or leasing a home in the region a particularly high real estate choice. Of the outlying communities, Allen, which is just a 30-minute drive north of Dallas, stands out for the wealth of community activities available to residents.

The city of 84,000 was named one of America’s Best Small Cities by “Money Magazine” in July 2010 for its local spirit, thriving economy, excellent school system, and for the excellence of its offerings in local life. From events to venues, Allen, Texas is, simply put, a great place to live.

Fireworks and Music at “First to the Fourth”

The last Saturday in June, Allen residents beat the rest of the DFW Metroplex to Independence Day with the “First to the Fourth” celebration, a festival of food and music, culminating with a massive, 20-minute fireworks display at 10 p.m. The event, which began in 1995, is produced by the City of Allen and the Allen Parks Foundation and held at the 106-acre Celebration Park. Regular attendance had now swelled to 65,000. There is no entrance fee, but vis layout tors pay for concessions and activities like admission to the Kids Zone. (Note that this is a family-friendly gathering, with no alcohol allowed on the grounds.)

Multi-Use Development at Watters Creek

Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, a mixed-use development, covers 52 acres at the southwest corner of U.S. 75 and Bethany Drive in Allen, Texas. Planned as a new “commercial heart” for Allen and the surrounding region, the design includes a large village green by the creek, displays of interactive public art, varied and upscale retail venues, and multiple restaurants with al fresco dining and views of the water. (There are also residential lofts and office spaces.) Each Saturday morning, Watters Creek plays host to a Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering fresh, organic produce in a relaxed, community atmosphere.

Skating at the Allen Event Center

The Allen Event Center features a state-of-the-art, full-size ice skating surface measuring 85′ x 200′ with a seating capacity for 300+ spectators. Beginning through advanced classes are offered along with figure skating, specialty classes, and private lessons. There are recreational and competitive hockey leagues as well as game instructional classes from beginner to advanced. Additional activities include skating shows, troop lessons, summer camps, and skating competitions. The venue is available for birthday parties, field trips, fundraisers, lock-ins, church functions, and a variety of other meetings. (The Events Center also hosts concerts by groups like REO Speedwagon and artists like Reba McEntire, and special interest shows for collectors and enthusiasts of all types.)

Gold Class Cinema, Village at Fairview

Located at the Village at Fairview, Gold Class Cinemas gives Allen residents a night out at the movies in luxurious, first-class style that starts right in the lobby bar, which is outfitted with crushed-velvet lounge chairs. The theater’s in-house chef offers a gourmet menu including Maine lobster and a selection of 30 wines by the glass (along with a variety of locally brewed beers.) Finger foods are available, as is candy in martini glasses and popcorn drizzled with real butter. There are eight screens, each with room for 24-40 people. The seats are recliners with blankets, storage space for shopping bags or other personal items, and eight feet of leg room. With a free membership, the price of a ticket drops from $29 to $17.50.

Allen Offers the Best of Both Worlds

At the end of the day’s commute, there’s no need to leave home to find a good meal out, do some shopping, enjoy sports, or take in a show. Allen has the feel of a small town and the amenities of a large city including:

– 3,448 restaurants in a 15-mile radius,
– 38 movie theaters within the same distance,
– 154 public golf courses inside of 30 miles,
– 41 libraries within 15 miles,
– and five museums with national accreditation inside 30 miles.

In 2011, the entire region will be buzzing with special activities around the Super Bowl to be hosted in Cowboys Stadium in nearby Arlington.

Without question, the DFW region in North Texas is a good choice to buy or lease a home. As the 12th largest metro economy in the world, in 2010 DFW has weathered the recession well, with property values largely intact. Sales of single-family homes in Texas are up for the third quarter in a row, with April-to-June 2010 sales up 14% over the same period in 2009.

Communities like Allen offer better-than-average value regarding the quality of life because they bridge the gap between both worlds. Situated in the range of an easy commuting distance from Dallas, Allen is a town you’ll want to come home to at the end of the day.

Relocating To Allen, Texas Gives Buyers Superior Options.

Allen, Texas, lying 23 miles north of Dallas on U.S. 75, draws on the strongest aspects of a Lone Star past and present to build a unique community character. The thriving town of more than 78,000 traces its roots to a land grant predating the Republic of Texas. It’s day-to-day life, however, is anchored in the opportunities and amenities of a vibrant metropolitan area. These qualities make Allen a popular choice for homeowners relocating to Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Major Urban Area with a Strong Economy

Buyers looking for homes for sale in the sprawling DFW Metroplex are contemplating a move to a major urban area that has weathered the recession well. Real estate values in North Texas remain mostly intact, and the cost of living and rates of unemployment are well below the national averages.

The DFW Metroplex dominates the region geographically and economically. It represents the 12th largest metro economy in the world with the fourth largest labor force in the United States. Dallas is the third-largest city in the state and the ninth largest in the United States.

In 2008 the estimated median income per household in Allen was $88,199 compared to $50,043 for Texas as a whole. The average age for Allen residents is 31.4 years, making the city a youthful, but the stable suburban community in easy reach of its larger neighbor. In June 2010, the median price of homes for sale in Allen was $238,000 with 779 houses for sale.

Excellent Educational Opportunities

The Allen Independent School District includes 15 elementary schools, three middle schools, one freshman center, one alternative campus, and one high school. College-bound students can pick from Texas Christian University, the University of Texas (with campuses in both Arlington and Dallas), the University of Dallas, and Dallas Baptist University.

Enrollment in the Allen ISD has more than doubled since 1989 with the current K-12 count at 18,000. The Texas Education Agency awarded 15 Allen campuses an “exemplary” rating, with four earning the “recognized” rating based on the Spring 2009 TAKS testing results. High-quality schools and proximity to leading institutions of higher are a major draw to consumers considering buying a home in the area.

Haven for Sports Fans

Sports is also a major part of life in Allen — and across North Texas as a whole. Local professional teams include, of course, the Dallas Cowboys, but the city is also home to the Mavericks (basketball) and the Stars and Brahmas (hockey). North Texans also enjoy racing at the Texas Motor Speedway and the 2011 Super Bowl will be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Allen proper offers residents a variety of sports leagues for softball, golf, volleyball, and basketball. The Joe Farmer Recreation Center hosts youth programs ranging from horseback riding to hula dancing. The town’s many parks are a major attraction for families as a counterbalance to the urban environment.

Twenty miles of paved hiking and biking trails form part of a six-city network. At fourteen miles, the Allen Parkway Loop is the longest trail in the system. Allen lies between Lake Lavon to the east and Lake Lewisville to the west, each covering more than 20,000 acres. Both are major centers for fishing, boating, and water sports of all kinds.

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy long, warm springs and moderate fall conditions. The coldest months in the area are late January and February with the highest summer temperatures in July and August, often topping 100 degrees with a fair amount of humidity. Overall, however, the climate is moderate and conducive to an active, “outside” lifestyle.

Extensive Cultural Venues, Easy Travel

The greater DFW Metroplex is home to more than 25 art museums including well-recognized cultural districts in downtown Dallas, anchored by the Morton H. Myerson Center (home of the Dallas Symphony) and in Fort Worth by the Bass Performance Hall. The Dallas urban arts district includes nine museums, and there are 115 public works of art throughout the city.

Like all residents of the region, the travel needs of Allen citizens are met by DFW International Airport. The facility lies half-way between Dallas and Fort Worth and ranks third in the world in operations and seventh in passenger volume, a fact of particular importance for business people who want to live in beautiful suburban settings like Allen, but who need easy access to world-class transportation.

For many, the decision to relocate to Texas and to buy a home in a community like Allen is a choice to build a life in a stronger economic setting. North Texas is an excellent option as a future home for young business professionals and families. Whether you plan to buy, rent or lease a house, the real estate in the region is among the state’s best; the Metroplex provides top-flight urban amenities, and towns like Allen offer a stable but active community life.

Gino Leo

Gino Leo is a leading entrepreneur, professional business consultant, philanthropist, motivational speaker and decorated author. Born in 1970, in Arizona Texas, Gino Leo studied Bachelor of Commerce at the University of California, San Francisco where he graduated top of his class. As a result, he secured a prestigious internship in a leading business consultancy firm in California.